Search Climate Insights Directory

Friends of the Earth International terminated the membership of Amici della Terra (Friends of the Earth Italy) in October 2014, citing a divergence in their respective visions of environmental justice and missions after 36 years of affiliation.

The Biennial General Assembly of Friends of the Earth International (ATI) decided to revoke the membership of Amici della Terra (Amigos de la Tierra Italia) in October 2014.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the financial risks and costs associated with investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) under international investment agreements (IIAs), highlighting the burden on host states and proposing systemic reforms to contain costs.

The Eden District Municipality (EDM) issued a Request for Qualification (RFQ) in 2014 to pre-qualify waste management companies or consortia for a Public Private Partnership (PPP). The project involves the design, financing, construction, and operation of a new regional landfill in the Mossel Bay area, alongside the implementation of alternative waste treatment (AWT) technologies and bulk waste transfer services for several municipalities.

This background paper describes an action research programme in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, aimed at integrating climate change considerations into district-level disaster management planning. The programme, implemented by GEAG, ISET, and NIDM, successfully moved beyond research recommendations to publish a climate-sensitive District Disaster Management Plan (DDMP) by utilizing 'Shared Learning Dialogues' and the Climate Resilience Framework to bridge gaps between national policy and local implementation.

The National Environmental Compliance & Enforcement Report 2013/14 provides a comprehensive overview of the activities of South Africa's Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMI). It details statistics on criminal and administrative enforcement, compliance monitoring across 'brown' (pollution/waste) and 'green' (biodiversity) sectors, and specific case studies involving industrial facilities and wildlife crime, particularly rhino poaching.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyses the political deadlock in Togo ahead of the 2015 presidential elections. It details the failure of political dialogues to implement the 2006 Global Political Agreement, the fragmentation of the opposition, and the perceived lack of neutrality in electoral institutions. The document also examines socio-economic tensions, including youth unemployment and land disputes, and the role of the international community in attempting to mediate the crisis.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs analyzes the behavior and voting patterns of African states within the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) between July 2010 and July 2014. It highlights a tension between the African Group's organized coordination and its diverse, often inconsistent, responses to human rights violations both within Africa and globally.

This policy briefing analyzes the efforts of Côte d’Ivoire to regain its regional leadership position in West Africa following two decades of political instability. It examines the country's diplomatic assets, the challenges it faces in internal stability and institutional capacity, and its alignment with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Vision 2020 goals.

This policy briefing analyzes the decline of Nigeria's regional and continental diplomatic influence, arguing that a 'perverse hiatus' between its domestic instability and its foreign policy goals has led the country to punch below its weight despite being Africa's nominally largest economy as of May 2014.

The document analyzes Kenya's regional diplomacy, characterizing it as historically conservative and reluctant to exercise political leadership despite economic strength. It highlights a shift toward 'hard power' via military intervention in Somalia and President Uhuru Kenyatta's pan-African pivot to counter ICC proceedings. It also details the strategic blunders and economic imbalances defining Kenya's relationship with South Africa.

This report outlines a strategy to halve the European Union's dependence on imported natural gas by 2030 through cost-effective energy efficiency measures and accelerated renewable energy deployment. By targeting the buildings, industry, and energy production sectors, the EU could reduce its net natural gas imports by more than half and decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 49% relative to 1990 levels, exceeding the targets set in the EU's 2030 Framework.

This briefing by RMI outlines a strategic framework for China to transition away from fossil fuels by 'reinventing fire' through innovation and leapfrogging traditional industrial paths. The document focuses specifically on the first of three proposed 'gamechangers': achieving oil-free mobility through vehicle lightweighting, electrification, logistics optimization, and the adoption of advanced biofuels and hydrogen.

This research paper quantifies the potential for urban areas to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, arguing that city-scale actions in sectors like urban planning and public transport can help close the gap toward a 2°C global temperature target.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted written comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations published in August 2014. The CER argues that the proposed timeframes for assessments and decision-making are insufficient and potentially unconstitutional, and that the regulations fail to adequately address climate change impacts, the inefficiencies of the basic assessment process, and the need for clear guidance on biodiversity offsets to ensure 'no net loss' to the environment.

This research paper examines the current state of scientific knowledge regarding obstacles that hinder the planning and implementation of climate change adaptation, noting a lack of explanation for why these barriers exist and persist.

This fact sheet provides a chronological timeline of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) regulatory actions regarding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 2007 to 2015. It details the legal foundations established by the Supreme Court, the implementation of fuel economy standards for vehicles, and the development of the Clean Power Plan for the power sector.

A case study of an irrigation project in Ruti, Zimbabwe, highlighting that while smallholder farmers can increase production and resilience with support, local adaptation efforts must be integrated into wider political and economic frameworks to withstand increasing climate-driven extremes like droughts and intense rainfall.

This executive summary details a civil society event held on September 22, 2014, in New York, which brought together global health leaders to discuss the intersection of climate change and public health. The event focused on how health-centric decision-making can drive mitigation efforts across the agriculture, transportation, and energy sectors to improve human well-being and sustainable development.

This report investigates the application of performance-based specifications (PBSs) in public procurement within the European Union and the United States, focusing on their role in supporting sustainable development goals and environmental benefits.